Expansion Update: Boise State Given Approval to Join Big East, Could Join With Other Schools Next Week

by Patrick_the_Ruminator on Nov 3, 2011 9:31 PM EDT in Big East Expansion

As expected, the Idaho State Board of Education gave Boise State president Bob Kustra authority to join the Big East and find a new conference for the Broncos' Olympic sports. The vote was not unanimous but instead 7-1. The no vote came from a member from Moscow, Idaho (you know, where the Vandals play).

The Broncos will not join the Big East until 2013 to avoid paying the MWC exit fee. However, they will not be able to collect their portion of revenue from the conference next season. Among other things that came out of Kustra's statement, he described the MWC as "not the same conference we first agreed to join." He feels that it is vital that Boise State has a western partner in the move to the Big East. The anticipated Western division of the Big East that Kustra listed was Air Force, Boise State, Cincinnati, Houston, Louisville and SMU. Kustra also indicated that the Big East conference is talking to other schools in the west about joining. BYU is a school we've listed before. San Diego State is not. However, the Aztecs have let the conference know about their interest in joining the Big East (we'll let that sink in).

Remember the rumor we posted on about Boise State et al. joining "by Friday"? UCF president John Hitt wouldn't expect the Knights to be in the Big East by tomorrow but more like within a week. Stop me if you've heard that language before. Like Boise State, UCF, Houston and SMU wouldn't join the Big East before 2013 either.

There's nothing new to report on West Virginia's lawsuit. There will be Big East football games played this weekend though, in case you forgot due to all of the LSU-Bama hype.

Stay tuned to Big East Coast Bias for additional news on expansion by checking our Big East Expansion section and if things turn south, well check out the Big East Falls Apart section, too.

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If I'm a ho hum average school

At some point it become worth it to me to join the Big East just to collect exit fees.

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by RedTurtle on Nov 3, 2011 9:52 PM EDT reply actions

You see Boston College-FSU tonight?

The Eagles might want to come back to the Big East.

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by Patrick_the_Ruminator on Nov 3, 2011 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions

So your saying

Maryland is applying for membership to the BE? No thanks. We want schools that are more concerned about football, than schools that are concerned which funky color combination of uni is the more repugnant! Stay classy Maryland!

by Vinnie Giordano on Nov 3, 2011 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions

If you want to offer

which happens first: The collapse of Big East football as an AQ or the next Kim Kardashian wedding, I’ll take that action.

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by RedTurtle on Nov 6, 2011 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

What a fruit

Any man who mentions Kim Kardashian wedding plan is a bit fruity. Your card has been pulled. Come back when you want to make big boy analogies.

by Vinnie Giordano on Nov 6, 2011 11:42 PM EST up reply actions

what would happen

if Cincinnati and Louisville leaves for the Big 12?

by fracas on Nov 3, 2011 10:00 PM EDT reply actions

doesn't change much

If the BE still wants 12 schools for football, they round up two more.

by drothgery on Nov 3, 2011 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think that's happening anytime soon

I think some of it depends on how the 27 month holding period works. The Big 12 might think that it is not worth their time to wait two years for schools to join their conference. However, I feel Texas and Oklahoma seem more in favor of 10. Remember everyone in that conference bows to Texas. Besides if they split the BE adds two more schools. Maybe ECU gets that shot they want?

by Vinnie Giordano on Nov 3, 2011 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions

March 2012

would be the latest to invite Louisville & Cincinnati for 2014

by fracas on Nov 4, 2011 7:16 AM EDT up reply actions

True

I just don’t know if the Big 12 will move that quickly. But who knows anymore?

by Vinnie Giordano on Nov 4, 2011 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

False Prophets of Big East collaspe have been found wanting !

For a confernce that everyone has been trashing and saying was doomed, there seems to be an awful lot of teams who want to join it ! It’s very possible if the Big East would seize the moment that they could have 16 very good teams as of the start of the 2013 season ! I would grab the very best available – SD, BYU,Memphis,ECU,Temple,UMass and immediately add them to the 11 they have for 2013 ! 16 teams in 4 divisions !

by Lancaster O's Fan on Nov 3, 2011 10:34 PM EDT reply actions

While...

hardly a murders row I agree. Too many people wanted to see the BE die. But with the BCS system set the way it is it is just difficult for conferences to dissolve if they have an AQ bid. If things stay together for a bit we should be okay for a little while.

by Vinnie Giordano on Nov 4, 2011 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions